thinges whiche he did in Rome and howe the tyrant Maximius did kill him in Britaine AFter that Alexander had subdued and triumphed ouer the Persians certeine dayes he was deteined in the gouernement and refourmation of the cōmon wealth because the longe absence of princes breedeth wante of iustice amongst the multitude Of all the riches that he brought from the warres of Asia he did take for him selfe but one horse one chariot foure Elephantes one sworde one cuppe of Ius and a paper of poinctes which belonged vnto kinge Artaxerxes for as he saide The pray of princes ought to be imployed on princes The defence of the most daungerous frontiers he commended not but vnto men that had great wealth in the same which if he had not he gaue it them in such wise that to conserue his fidelitie which he did owe to saue his goods which he possessed he should be forced to defende his countrie or dye in the enterprise There was in Rome in those dayes a Mathematiciā named Thrasibulus of whō Alexander demaunded what death he should dye who aunswered thou shalt dye in a straunge countrie not in thine olde age but by the swoorde of a Barbarian whereat Alexander was nothing altered but rather with excéeding ioy imbracing Thrasibulus said A certeine speach of Alexander against the terrour of death If the Gods did graunt vnto other princes to liue perpetually and commaund mee onely to dye I confesse I should dolefully feele the deede of death but our life being as it is so shorte and death so necessarie I had rather dye in the field by the handes of mine enimies then in my chamber compassed with Physicians Vnto the greatnesse of Princes it appertaineth not onely to lead a good life but also elect an honourable death and to this ende I say vnto thee Thrasibulus that all the felicitie of a Prince consisteth in well gouerning the common wealth and also to imploye his life for the same What fame or glorie what ease or quietnesse doth followe the life of that Prince which dieth in his olde yeres and sickely in which age for the most parte olde men be euil serued of their subiectes and contemned of straungers He that conceiueth it to bee good for the priest to dye in the temple conceiueth no lesse of the Prince that dyeth in the field for that the office of the one is to praye of the other to fight I haue seene many dye here in Rome after the manner which the common people do thinke the best kinde of death that is to saye laden with yeares laide in their beddes accompanied with sonnes honoured of parents compassed with sonnes in lawe visited of Physicians and serued of nephues at whose death I beare no enuie since I knewe of them that before their bodies were tasted of woormes their hearts were vnbowelled with griefe thought Thrasibulus thou doest well knowe that Alexander Darius Hector Pompeyus Gayus Tullius Seneca and Demosthenes were men in their persons verie glorious in doctrines verie wise and in their deedes no lesse heroycall and yet all these with many others dyed not accōpanied with their friends but by the handes of their enimies neither were they blemished with so vntimely a death since of them nothing was lesse esteemed but rather by their cruell deaths they aduaunced their fames No other thing is diuers in death but onely the manner of the same sithence death in the ende is alwayes but one thinge for we should not be afflicted with the manner of our death but what thinges we should repaire to the amēdement of our life Admitting that these cōsiderations apperteine more vnto Philosophers then vnto the simple yet I saye both to thee and other that as it was not in our handes to be borne so shal not the manner of our death consist in our selues but that houre being arriued there and then shall euery man finde for him selfe what fortune hath prouided All these thinges Alexander saide vnto Thrasibulus in secrete and afterwards openly in the hearing of all men Not manie dayes after these thinges passed Alexander departed vnto the warres of Germanie which were not prosecuted in Germanie but in Gallia transalpina for because the French men were subiect vnto the Romains the Germaines did inuade them Alexander beeing in the greatest heate of these warres certeine mutinous souldiours and olde seruantes of Heliogabalus did create a capteine named Maximius Emperour béecause the Emperour Alexander woulde not consente but vtterly detested their horrible and vicious actes Alexander remaining in the lesser Britaine in a place named Cilicia Maximius his trayterous adherentes determined to kill him their Lorde and Emperour before it might be manifested through the armies for that notwithstanding diuers of them did doubt his seueritie yet on the other parte all persons did loue his iustice Alexander reposinge at after noone the traytours agreed with a iester to murther him in his tente who beeing entred fel into such dismay that he not only gaue ouer his determined attempt vnperfourmed but also fledde with no small doubt and feare affrighted But beeing afterwardes retyred vnto Maximius and his companions persuaded them presently to kill Alexander beeing at that time on his bedde solitarie and vnaccompanied for that other wise he woulde discouer their whole intente which he saide because it was A lawe Martiall that anie which shoulde aduenture to enter the tente of the prince without licence shoulde pay no lesse then the losse of his life Maximius and his complices consideringe what the iester had saide presently determined to murther their Lorde and Emperour Alexander and so ioyntly and furiously entringe his tente slewe both him his mother and all persons that made resistance or ouerthwarted them with anie displeasaunt speache Alexander died one the twelfth of Iune after thirteene yeres nine dayes of his Empire were expired he liued twentie nine yeres three moneths and seuen dayes and was a Prince in Rome moste loued in his life and most bewayled at his death The enimies of Alexander did note him that he despised in him selfe to be natiue in Assyria that he loued gold inuented newe tributes was seuere with souldiours did what he could to resemble Alexander Magnus and that he was somewhate suspicious But the thing wherefore Alexander was most blamed and iustly deserued to bee noted was that being a man and of greate experience in the gouernement of the Empire he continued subiect vnto his mother as when he was a childe and in this case it was sufficient that he had reuerenced and honoured her as a mother and on the other parte to haue considered that her counsell in the ende was but of a woman Alexander was so vniuersally beloued of all nations of the Empire that it chaunced at his death which neuer was read to haue chaunced at the death of any Prince of the worlde that is to saye that they were all slaine which brought the newes of his death neither the
on a time murmuring of the insolencies of the Emperour Domitian Traiane sayde vnto them The intention wherwith Domitian hath intreated me the Gods haue to iudge for of his works which he hath done I may not complaine since he hath bene the occasion that I haue recouered Nerua for my father Plutarche for my maister Plotina for my wife and aboue al the rest he brought me acquainted with aduerse Fortune for that afore I presumed of nothing but to commaund but now only to serue A yeare before Domitian died or to say better before they had slaine him he went to the wars in Germanie and in that yeare Traiane was elected Consul in the Senate of Rome It was no smal griefe vnto Traiane to accept that Consulship not for that he liked not to be lincked with the friendship of honour but for the griefe whiche he felt to leaue the companie of Nerua CHAP. V. Howe Nerua was made Emperour and adopted Traiane his sonne THe Romains not able to indure the iniuries and tyrannies of Domitian determined to kil him the which out of hande they did perfourme the xiiii of October in the fourtie fifte yeare of his age when he had reigned xv yeares In many a day the Romaine people had nor receiued so ioyful newes as the newes of the death of Domitian in such maner that they gaue rich rewards vnto currers postes that brought the same and made great ioy in the countries where they passed for that they did as muche desire his death as they did abhorre his life Petronius capteine of the guard and Partenius his chamberleine were the men that practised the death and also violated the life of Domitian and they them selues gaue order that Nerua presently should be elected Emperour The Romaines did so extremely hate Domitian that not contented to sée him deade to hale his bodie péecemeale trayling through the streates of Rome al his pictures and counterfets they did spoyle and take away all his arches and titles they did raze out all his edifices whiche he had built they ouerthrewe all writings which he had firmed they burnt and all that were named Domitians were banished in suche wise that they could neyther indure to sée him aliue neither heare him named after his death The day after the death of Domitian Nerua Coceius was declared Emperour and of his election all the Romaine people were much pleased the one cause for that he was so vertuous and the other bicause he was an enimie vnto Domitian Presently that Nerua was elected Emperour presently he sent Traiane as Pretour into Germanie to the end he should take into his power the legions and gouernement of that prouince on the one parte for that Traiane was liked and muche desired of all the men of warre and the other for that Calphurinus capteine vnto Domitian was holden somewhat suspected Amongest other euill conditions wherewith the Emperour Domitian was possessed was that all thinges which séemed vnto him good riche or faire he dyd much praise it and therof they had to consider for most certaine that all whiche he praised fréely they had to present the same for if otherwise incontinently he tooke it by force Of these like things Nerua found in his palace much goods of other mens whiche by publike proclamation were all restored vnto the owners In suche wise that this good prince wold not only not take frō other men but also make restitution of that which by his predecessours had bin robbed When Nerua was elected Emperour he was excéeding olde and of infirmities much persecuted for in him there was nothing sound but his toung wherewith he did talke and his good iudgement wherewith he did gouerne The Romaines beholding Nerua so olde and sickly complayning that he coulde not sléepe and that for weaknesse of stomach he durst eate but of verie fewe things they helde it for most certaine that his life was verie short and with this motion they beganne to holde him in smal estimation Considered by Nerua that he had not long to liue and that the Romaines did not estéeme him he remembred to adopt Traiane as his sonne and to accept him for companion in the Empire and so it came to passe that presently he sent him the imperiall ensigne which was a certaine manner of cape with a hoode and with the same he wrote him a letter wherein were written no other wordes but these Phoebe tuis telis lachrimas vlciscere nostras As if he shuld say Noble Traiane thou shalt haue charge with thy venturous armes to reuenge my sorrowfull teares For the disobedience which the Romaines committed against his commaundements and the want of reuerence they helde of his person Nerua of Traiane craued that reuengement bycause it is a thing much vsed amongest men persecuted afflicted that the iniuries which they may not reuenge with their handes they bewaile with their eyes In the time that this did passe Traiane was in Almane in the citie of Agrippina which nowe is called Coleine and the night before that he receiued the imperiall ensigne and the letter from the Emperour Nerua he dreamed that he was inuested with a purple garment and a ring put on his right hand and crowned with a certaine crowne Only thrée monethes and fiue dayes did passe after Traiane was elected Emperour vnto the death of Nerua who dyed in the age an hundred tenne yeares ten monethes and tenne dayes THE VI. CHAP. Of the lawes that Traiane made to the profite of the common wealth AT the instant in which Traiane vnderstoode that the Emperour Nerua was deade he departed vnto Rome where at his comming he did celebrate the obsequies of his Lorde and friend Nerua and they were suche and so riche that it séemed rather feastes for the liuing then honours for the dead bycause there was nothing in them that moued sadnesse but to sée Traiane goe verie sad The first thing that Traiane sayd promised sware in the Senate was that no man that was good and peaceable by his cōmaundement or consent should be put to death which he obserued al the daies of his Empire After this he cōmanded Emilia to be sent for which was captaine of the Pretorian armies whom he commaunded to be discharged of his office and to be banished the Empire the one cause for that he had disobeyed the emperour Nerua and the other cause for that he had imbezeled the payes of the men of warre He commaunded publike proclamation to be made that all men that had iust cause to complaine of the Consuls of the Senatours of the Iudges or other officers of Rome that they shoulde come foorth and declare for that he wished satisfaction vnto the one and correction vnto the other Personally Traiane did visite all offices of Rome which is to vnderstande where they solde breade where they weighed flesh where they measured wine where the merchaunts dwelt where straungers did lodge and so of al other offices among
which were both coloured and couered with his large and bountifull giftes Great were the rewardes that he gaue vnto Epiteus and Eliodorus philosophers but much more was his liberalitie towardes Phauorinus bycause he both gaue him great goodes and honour in the common wealth His custome was when he sent for any to serue him in the warres to giue him al things necessarie for the same that is to say armour to fight money to spend Adrian being aduertised of a noble gentleman of Numidia named Malacon a man both valiant warlike who refusing to receiue the vsuall rewarde that Adrian gaue vnto suche as did accompanie him in warres sayde vnto him It is more reason that I should preuent thée in doing mine office then thou shouldest precede mée in doing thy dutie which is to say that before thou beginne to fight I shoulde beginne to gratifie thée for in the end it is much more that thou doest for me in aduenturing thy life then I in rewarding thée with my goods Many times Adrian would boast him selfe that he coulde neuer remember that he had eaten alone but alwayes did eate in the companie of Philosophers that disputed in Philosophie eyther else of capteines that did talke and conferre in matters of warre He was neate in his apparell curious and delicate in his diet Examining the order of the diet of his housholde and finding the prouision prouided for the honour thereof to be imbeziled and purloyned by officers he commaunded them to be whipt and turned out of his gates for notwithstanding he had a noble mynde to giue a Prouince for a reward he had not patience to suffer or endure the deceit or stealth of a pennie Adrian was a man both seuere gladsome graue courteous pleasant suffering rashe patient furious a sauer liberall a dissembler pitifull cruell finally he was variable in his vices and inconstant in vertues bycause he did not long absteine from euill eyther long continue in doing good Adrian vnto his friendes was bothe gratefull and vnkinde that is to say he gaue them much goods and did not much estéeme their honour Great inconuenience did followe the Emperour Adrian for his infidelitie and want of faith vnto his friendes which did most clearely shewe it selfe in Tatianus Nietus Seuerus and Septitius whom at one time he helde for friends after did persecute them as enimies Eudemius a noble Gentleman of Rome he was so great a frend with Adrian that he offered sacrifices vnto the gods to giue him the Empire and after Adrian did beare him so great hatred that he did persecute him not onely to cast him out of Rome but also vntill he had brought him to extreme pouertie Polenus and Marcellus were of Adrian so euil handled and persecuted that they chose rather to dye with their owne handes then to liue vnder his gouernement Eliodorus a most famous man in letters both Gréeke and Latine was not onely of Adrian persecuted but also put to death and torne in pieces whose death was much be wailed for that he was profitable vnto the whole comon wealth Oluidius Quadratus Catalius Turbon auncient Consuls were by Adrian persecuted although not put to death bycause euery one séeking to saue his life were banished Rome and all Italie The noble Consul Seuerianus husbande vnto Sabina sister vnto Adrian of the age of a hundred and ninetie yeares was constrained to dye for no more but for that he had reported to haue liued the death of thirtene Emperours that if Adrian should dye first it should make vp the number of xiiij the which when Adrian vnderstoode he rather determined to take him from amongest the liuing then he should reckon him amongst the deade In all things Adrian was very wel learned that is to say reading writing singing painting fighting hunting playing and disputing but that he had therewith a tache or a fault which was that if he knewe muche he presumed much wherein he was noted of all men bycause he scorned all men After he entered into Aegypt he gaue him selfe vnto Astrologie and held for custome yearely to write out of that science of al things that should happen that yeare which also he did in the yeare that he dyed but obteined not the knowledge thereof Adrian in one thing did séeme to excell in that he neuer desired the knowledge of any facultie art or science but that he procured to be singular He ouercame many warres with armes but he did appease and cut off many more with giftes bicause vnto diuers peoples cities and townes he gaue libertie and priuileges and to his Lords and viceroyes he gaue great rewardes Although in some particular things touching both friendes and enimies he shewed him selfe both affectionate and also passionate vniuersally as touching the weale of the common welth Adrian was alwayes friend in ministring iustice When there happened any graue matters at the souden he wold furiously be altered but at the time of iudgement and determinatiō seriously he did both consider examine them He did sildome determine matters without counsel and to this end chiefly vsed the aduice of Siluius and Neratius the most learned of that age and approued by the Senate Naturally he was of an vnquiet heart and of condition intermedling It did happen vnto him many times in reading of histories when he found of any place or coūtrie that was possessed of any extremitie or singularitie that he could not come to the viewe thereof with extreme desire he did many times growe both sicke and sorrowfull Notwithstanding he was large and of great magnanimitie with Philosophers with countries with men of warre and with his friends much more was his magnificence to the ministers of iustice and being demaunded of Fauorinus why he was so boūtiful vnto them answered I make the ministers of iustice riche bycause by robberie of iustice they shall not make other men poore CHAP. XIII Of the lawes that Adrian made MAny and right necessarie lawes were made by Adrian whiche were approued by the Senate and receiued of the common wealth and long time obserued He did ordeine that if any man would remoue from one citie to an other that at his owne libertie he might sell his house but not to aduenture to pull it downe eyther to sel or make profite of the stuffe therof bycause the authoritie of a common wealth is impayred when the buildings be ruinated He did also ordeine that when any man was condemned to dye for offences of great enormitie and his goodes confiscate that his children shoulde inioy the tenth part of those goodes in suche wise that for that whiche was taken from them they had to bewaile the offence of their fathers and for that which was giuen them they shoulde féele and also commende the clemencie of the Prince Also there were certaine cases forbidden in whiche if any man did fall or incurre he was accused as if he had committed great treason againste the estate Royall
heare thereof and woulde ofte say vnto me that manie kinges and kingdomes he had seene lost by mariage in straunge countries and therefore woulde not marrie me but within his owne kingdome and saide at the houre of his death that if I woulde liue manie yeares in peace I shoulde not abandon my children to straunge marriages I had three sonnes whiche nowe bee all deade and there remaineth vnto me but only one daughter in whome remaineth all my hope and if the Gods would and my destinies permitte I woulde giue her an husbande within mine owne naturall countrie whome I might esteeme as my sonne and he me as his father for my intent is not to giue her an husband that hath much goods but in his person greate worthinesse To that which thou sayest of the kingdoms of Parthians the Empire of Romanes would do verie wel to be ioyned in one thou hast great reason in that which thou sayest if it might be done with as great facilitie as it is spoken but how is it possible they may be made one being as they are so strange in nation so distant in situation so distinct in language so diuers in lawes and aboue all the reste so contrarie in conditions Since betwixt you and vs there are so manie landes countries nations hills and seas howe is it possible the bodies beeing so distante that the harts may be vnited Wee are much better knowne vnto the Godds then wee knowe our selues and since they haue created vs and separated vs the one from the other howe is it possible for vs to liue and enioy together for by greate diligence that men may vse either power that princes may practise it is impossible for them to scatter that whiche the Godds do gather together or to ioyne that whiche they do separate If thou wilte haue men for thy warres I wil sende them If thou wilt haue money to inrich thy treasure I will furnishe thee If thou wilt enter peace with mee I will graunte it If thou wilte that wee be brothers in armes by othe I will confirme it Finally I excepte nothing betwixte thee and mee but that thou do not craue my daughter to wife I am determined wil not for giuing my daughter a good marriage leaue my countrie tributarie vnto straunge people The precious iuells and greate riches which thou sentest me I haue receiued with greate good will and I sende thee others although not such either so riche neuerthelesse thou mayest alwayes cōceiue by them that the kinges of the Parthians haue greate treasures in their keeping and no lesse noblenesse of minde to spende them No more but the Goddes be thy defence and that thou of me and I of thee may see good fortune CHAP. XII Howe Bassianus committed a greate treason against the Parthians THis letter being receiued by Bassianus he made semblance of greate sorrowe that the kinge of Parthians would not giue him his daughter to wife howbeit he ceased not therefore eftsones to write sende more presents to bringe to passe by importunities that which of will he might not frame Arthabanus considering the importunities of Bassianus in writinge and his largesse in sending more riche iuells not doubting that anie guile might be concealed in that marriage did yealde him selfe vnto the iudgmente of his friendes who counselled him that hee shoulde not in anie wise but accept the Emperour of Romaines for his sonne in lawe for it might be that hee shoulde recouer him for an enimie that would not accept him for a sonne The fame beeing spread throughout all Asia that the kinges daughter shoulde marrie with the Emperour of Rome Bassianus aduised to repaire and prepare with all speede so that in all cities of the Parthians where he passed they did not only not resiste him but with greate ioy did receiue and feast him for they helde it for greate vaine glorie to sée their princesse demaunded for wife by the great Emperour of Rome In all places where Bassianus passed he offered riche sacrifices in their temples and gaue greate rewardes vnto suche as did attende and receiue him all whiche he dissembled to escape suspicion of the exceeding malice whiche he determined to execute Bassianus beeing arriued at the greate citie Parthinia where most times the greate kinge of Parthians was residente Arthabanus issued foorth to receiue his sonne Bassianus who most truly ranne foorth as cōformable vnto peace as Bassianus readie and determined for the warres There issued foorth with kinge Arthabanus not only the noble and valiaunt personages of his house and courte but also all the men of power and wealth of his kingdome which against that day were called and did attende in such wise that by his traine the kinge discouered his valure as also the noblenesse of his people Nowe when the Parthians beganne to ioyne with the Romaines and of both partes greate courtesies offered Bassianus gaue a signe vnto his armed knights to giue a charge vpon the Parthians vpon whome they executed as greate a slaughter as Hanibal at Canasse and Scipio at Carthage The kinge Arthabanus as he came in the troupe of all his royaltie tooke his seruaunts horse and gaue him selfe to flight and then as it was night his horse verie swift he had leasure to escape with his life although not able to defende his countrie This beeing donne he sackt the royall palace and al the citie and after commaunded fire to be giuen to all partes thereof whiche he perfourmed in all cities where he passed all the time that he remained in Parthia and freely gaue licence vnto his armie to take what they might to kill whome they would This was the manner that Bassianus vsed to subdue the Parthians whiche conquest with more reason may be termed the inuention of a traytour then the conquest of an Emperour for the innocente Parthians were rather solde then ouercome At the presente when these thinges passed Bassianus did write vnto the Senate aduertisinge them that hee had subdued all prouinces and kingdomes of the Easte vnto the Romaine Empire some by force and others by good will and that allthough the Romane princes his predecessours did excéede him in yeares and riches yet not to be comparable vnto him in victories The Senate béeing ignorante of the greate treason of Bassianus practised against the Parthians because they receiued his letters before anie other messenger had made reporte thereof were verie ioyfull and made greate feastes in Rome placeing his counterfeit vpon all the gates of the citie but after they vnderstoode the trueth of the treason committed they were so muche grieued with that so vile a deede that if the Parthians did suffer the Romanes did bewayle CHAP. XIIII How Bassianus was slaine by the commaundemente of his priuate captaine Macrinus THe Emperour Bassianus beeing departed from the territories of Parthia came vnto the prouince of Mesopotamia which was in the moneth of October and beeinge full of woodes wherin were
bred manie wilde beastes he woulde remaine in the thickest thereof for that he was more giuen to chase in mountaines then to hawke in fieldes The captaines of Bassianus armie were two Romanes named Audentius and Macrinus Audentius was a rustical person as concerning maters of the cōmon wealth but verie expert valiaunt in warrelike affaires Macrinus contrarywise in gouerning the common wealth was wise and skilfull but in martiall affaires somewhat negligent and not ouer fortunate Bassianus did like very well of Audentius and no lesse euill of Macrinus and did not only wishe but also said of him much euill murmuring that hée was negligent a coward vitious an epicure a glutton that did eate much and drincke not a litle and that at his comming to Rome he would remoue him from all charge in matters of warre Macrinus was a man very wel learned and in his speach no lesse reformed and in all thinges that they said vnto him touching that which Bassianus should speake of him he aunswered that whatsoeuer his good lord had said of him was spoken of great affection not to the end to defame him as an enimie but to correcte him as a sonne Although Macrinus vsed this speach openly yet he had other matter in his hart secretly as afterwards in the successe of affaires it manifestly appeared for at such time as Bassianus would haue remoued Macrinus from his honour and estate Macrinus dispatched him of his life The case was thus that Bassianus being inclined of his owne proper nature to knowe secretes not onely of men but also of Gods and diuels alwayes fearing himselfe that by practise of some treason they would take away his life hée was neuer void of the conuersation of Sorcerers sothsayers and inchanters to aduertise him how long hee should liue and what death hee should die Not satisfied with such Magicians sothsayers sorcerers and inchaunters as did attend on his person in the warres hee would send vnto the Prefect of Rome named Maternianus to whome Bassianus committed the credite of his secretes writinge a letter vnto him with his owne proper hande commaunding him with great diligence and secrecie to assemble Magicians Sorcerers Sothsayers Inchaunters and Astrologians to know of them not onely how long he should liue and how he should die but also to demaund of them if there were any person within the Empire that desired or procured to be Emperour Maternianus performed all that which his Lord Bassianus had written vnto him whether it were any magician or sothsayer that said it either any enimie of Macrinus finding opportunitie for his purpose Maternianus did write and aduertise Bassianus that he had assembled all the sorcerers inchanters diuiners magicians sothesayers astrologians and augurs and that the resolution of their counsell was that if hee would enioy the Empire it were conuenient that Macrinus were slaine At the instant when the post returned with his letters from Rome Bassianus was placed in his coche to go foorth on hunting not remēbring what he had written either presuming what might be writtē said vnto Macrinus that he should open and read them all and if that he found therin matter of great importance to consult therin and al other smal matters that he himselfe should prouide aunswere and dispatch Macrinus reading these letters as wel such as were written vnto Bassianus as vnto himself came also to read the letter of Maternianus wherin he aduertised Bassianus of the aunswere which the magicians had giuen him which is to say that presently it were conuenient that Macrinus should be put to death whereof he was not a litle abashed holding it for great good hap that this secrete had chaunced into his onely handes before any other person for at the instant that Bassianus might haue read this letter he would haue cōmaunded Macrinus his head to flée from his shoulders Macrinus doubting that Maternianus might returne to write of the former matter vnto Bassianus and that were it but for cōcealing that letter hee would shorten him by the shoulders aduised to practise the death of Bassianus before he should experiment the same on him Amongest them that garded the person of Bassianus there was one Martianus who accordingly had a brother also of his guard him for a small displeasure Bassianus commaunded to be slaine and with Martianus vsed woords of great despite in such maner that Martianus with those woords remayned disgraced of his brothers death gréeued and afflicted After Macrinus vnderstoode this passion to reigne in Martianus against Bassianus hee first entered with him in familiaritie and gaue him siluer and gold receiued him into his friendship and euery day lead him into remembrance of the vniust death of his brother to the ende hee should not growe cold but hote in hatred against Bassianus Now when Macrinus felt that by his benefits he had recouered Martianus for his faithful friēd and brought him into great disdaine and mortall hatred of Bassianus he grew to cōposition to depriue him of his life for which déede his reward should be great whereof Martianus did take great delighte and bound himselfe to performe the same partly to reuenge the death of his brother as also to condescend vnto the request of his friend Macrinus Bassianus being resident in Careuca a citie of Mesopotamia came foorth to visite a temple of the Goddesse Luna two miles distant from the citie and being constrayned vppon the way to vnburden his bellie hee entered the thickest of the couert accompanied but with one seruaunt and Martianus that attended but opportunitie to accōplish his promise entered vppon Bassianus being withdrawen into the thickest of the shrubs prosecuting his necessitie al alone Martianus strake him with a launce downe flat vppon the ground which wound was so mortall that without more woordes or strength to moue where the launce went in the life came out After that Martianus had slaine Bassianus he toke his horse and fled but as the imperiall guard was at hand within a leage he was ouertaken and slaine with launces in such wise that after hee had taken reuengmēt of his enimie he enioyed his life but one hour This was the end of the vnhappie Emperour Bassianus whose life did merite a slaunderous death for that it was not vnreasonable that he which had kild so many friends by treason should be slaine with enimies CHAP. XIIII ¶ How Macrinus excusing himselfe of the death of Bassianus did aduaunce himselfe with the Empire ON the selfe same day that Antoninus Bassianus was borne which was the eight of April he was slaine xliiij yeares of his age being accomplished and vj yeares of his Empire and reigne expired The first man that came vnto him after he was slaine was Macrinus who bewailed his death with so great dissimutation as if he had not béene the mā that procured so vile a déede Macrinus was right fortunate that Martianus was slaine when hee was taken for all men thought and also said that Martianus had
an instant some were slaine and some ouerthrowen Traiane disguised and in disposition to viewe the citie was of the enimies both knowen wounded and his Squire slaine The Agarens beeing demaunded if at that instant they had notice of the Emperours person they aunswered that his grauitie and the maiestie of his presence did discouer his estate Traiane being at that siege there arose terrible lightening and thunder which in that countrie was neuer séene and besides there descended vppon the Romaine campe flies so many importune that both their meate and drinke and their owne persons were continually couered with the same Traiane considering the citie to be impregnable did retire his armie They saye that he saide at his retraite Since the Agarens with mine armies either my wordes be neither subdued or persuaded the destinies haue reserued this triumph for some other Prince in the world to come In the prouince of Cyrene Traiane had a greate armie both of Greekes as of Romaines and the pretor of those armies was a certeine Romaine named Andreas against whome the Iewes of those partes did rebell and slewe both captaine Greekes and Romaines The Iewes were not onely contented to haue slaine the Romaines but also brought the dead bodies vnto the shambles and there did quarter cut in péeces and solde by weight with no lesse appetite did eate that humaine fleshe then if it had béene hennes and fesants Adding crueltie vppon crueltie they brought forth certeine Romaines whiche they had in prison and did wage one with another a denéere or a point to strike off the head of a Romaine at a blowe Another thing not more vile then horrible the Iewes committed vppon those miserable Romaines that is they fleyed them quicke and tanned their skinnes for leather and further with greatest disgrace did cut off their most shamefast partes and plaide and tost them as a ball in the market place As the Iewes left no Romaine vnslaine so left they no crueltie or kind of death that they did not experiment and in this matter we haue no lesse to marueile at the hearts of the one to execute then of the patience of the other to suffer That which was don by the Iewes of Cyrene was executed by the Iewes of Aegypt and of the Ilands of Cypres who slewe all the Romaines within their common wealthes which slaughter was no lesse then 500000 Greekes and Romaines When these sorrowfull newes came vnto Traiane he was very sicke but notwithstanding prouided what was conuenient for so desperate a case and presently sent Lucius into Cyrene Marcus into Cypres and Seuerus into Aegypt who committed so great spoiles among the people and executed so cruell iustice vppon the inhabitants that if the dead had béene liuing they would haue yelded them selues for sufficiently reuenged Elius Adrianus was captaine vnto Traiane for the guarde of Syria and hearing what had passed in this matter soudeinly he descended into Iurie and did execute therein a greate slaughter and they of Cypres receiuing warning by this great treason did ordeine that no Iewe shoulde dare to inhabite or passe into that kingdome and that if tempest shoulde bring them by chaunce into that Ilande to haue no redemption therof but by the losse of their heades Traiane naturally was alwayes of greate health but in the traueile of so many prouinces following of so many warres sayling vpon so many Seas and enduring so many woundes the griefe or disease of the piles did not a little vexe him But the case was thus that from the daye that Traiane might not passe into the Indies they neuer sawe health in his person or ioy in his face Through the cause or disease of the piles at chaunge of weather Traiane had a fluxe of bloude which for his health was very profitable Either by the colde which he had passed or angers which in him selfe he suffered or greate age wherewith he was laden there increased vnto the good Prince a Pasma or numnesse of his arme and his purgation by fluxe of bloud was stopped Ioyning vnto the citie of Seleuca there were certeine famous bathes whereunto sicke people of all partes did concurre whether Traiane did cause him selfe to be remoued to make proofe for recouerie of his health And as experience did after declare those bathes did not profite but hinder for being weake consumed and spent although he had force to bathe he had no strength to sweate Nowe when Traiane sawe him selfe without hope of life he wrote a letter vnto the Senate of Rome commending the state of his house vnto Lucius and the affaires of the warres vnto Elius Adrianus He dyed in the citie of Seleuca which is in the prouince of Sicyl which from thence foorth was named Traginopolis in the age of 63. yeres and in the reigne of his Empire 21. yeres 6. monethes and 15. dayes ¶ The life of the Emperour Adrian Compiled by sir Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo Preacher Chronicler and Counseller vnto the Emperour Charles the fift ⸫ CHAP. I. ¶ Of the linage from whence Adrian descended and of the place and countrie where he was bred and nourished THE greate Emperour Traiane being dead Adrian succéeded in the Empire who was seruaunt friend and cousin of the saide Traiane The beginning and linage of Adrian by the fathers side was of Italie borne in a citie named Hadra and of the mothers side a Spaniard borne at Cades whiche nowe is named Calize a citie of Andoloizia His fathers name was Elius Adrianus maried vnto a woman of Spaine named Domitia Paulina a woman sufficient wise and faire borne in the citie of Calize shée was néece vnto the Emperour Traiane his sisters daughter whome he did much loue for that of a childe shée was bred in his house Adrian had a sister named Paulina who was married vnto a Consul named Seuerinus and the graundfather of Adrianus was named Marillinus of the linage of the Priscans which linage did not a little florishe in the time of the Scipions Adrian was borne in Rome the 9. daye of Februarie in the consulship of Vespasianus septimus and Titus quintus in the yere of the foundation of Rome 488. Adrian had an high bodie of perfecte proportion except his necke which was somewhat stouping his nose somewhat hawked his face swart his eyes more grey then blacke his bearde blacke and thicke his handes more of sinewes then of fleshe his head great and round and a broade forehead a great signe as he had of greate memorie When his father dyed he was but of ten yeres who left him for tutors Vlpius Traianus and Celius Tatianus the one béeing his vnckle and the other his friend effectually requestinge to traine and instruct that childe in wisedome and valiantnesse for that he had no lesse abilitie for the one then for the other At the age of tenne yeres Adrian studied Grammar and after his fathers death his tutours set him to learne the Greeke tongue wherein he was so
and rulers of the people should not aduenture to spende the goods of the common wealth in matters eyther vnprofitable or superfluous but to the defence of enimies or repayring of fortifications eyther else for prouision of the common wealth in time of deare yeares There was in Rome certaine stipendarie interpreters of all languages to manifest the meaning of straunge ambassadours whose fée and office Antoninus commanded to be forbidden and taken away affirming it to be verie conuenient vnto the greatnesse and maiestie of Rome that al nations and kingdomes should learne to speake their speache and that it were abasement for them to learne any straunge toung Also he did ordeine that al the old impotent blind people in Rome should be susteined at the charges of the common wealth but such as were younger and more able shoulde be constrained eyther to boult meale at the bakers or to blowe the bellowes at the smythes By chaunce on a certaine day he founde an olde seruitour whiche he had knowne long in the warres rubbing and clawing him selfe against the pillers of the Churche Adrian demaunding why he did so rubbe him selfe and weare out his clothes the olde man made answere I haue no garments to clothe my selfe neyther any man giueth me to eate yet if it may please thée Adrian I haue founde meane to rub my selfe Adrian tooke great compassion of that whiche he did sée but much more of that which he heard and presently he commaunded goods to be giuen him and slaues to serue him And as enuie is naturall vnto the poore as pryde is common among the riche The next day other two poore men came before Adrian rubbing them selues amongst the pillers in hope to receiue the like liberalitie whom he willed to be called vnto him commaunding the one to scratch the other and by turne to ease each other of his itch Vnto king Pharasmaco of the Parthians Adrian gaue great giftes that is to say fiftie Eliphants armed with their towers and thrée hundred men of Hiberin in the countrie of Spaine which were of his guard CHAP. XI Of the prodigious and monstruous things that happened during the Empire of Antoninus MAny trauels and hard aduentures followed the Emperour Antoninus while he liued and also in all his kingdomes in the time of his reigne bicause Fortune is so variable that she neuer stayeth her wheele or euer ceaseth to be turning thereof In the second yeare of his reigne hunger was so great so sharpe and so generall throughout all Italie that thereof there dyed no lesse then if it had bene of a fierce pestilence There was in Asia so cruell and so generall an earthquake that many houses and buildings were subuerted many people slayne and not a fewe cities disinhabited for the repayring of which great hurtes he sent not onely money from the common wealth of Rome but also plentifully sent his treasure out of his owne coffers In the moneth of Ianuarie there was in Rome so furious a fire that it burnt ten thousand houses wherein there perished of men women and children more then tenne thousande In the same yeare was burnt the stately place of Carthage the one halfe of Antioche and in a manner the whole citie of Narbona In the moneth of August there was at Rome great floudes and besides losse of their corne both reapt and vnreapt The riuer Tyber did so swell and ouerflowe that one dayes losse was not repayred in thrée yeares On the fourth of the monethe of Maie there appeared a starre ouer Rome conteyning the quantitie of the whéele of a myll which threw out sparkes so thicke and so continuall that it séemed rather the fire of a forge then the shining of a starre In the sixt yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in Rome was borne a childe with two heades the one like a man the other like a dogge but the straungenesse of the matter did more excéede in that with one head he did cry and barke as a whelpe and with the other did wéepe as a childe In the citie of Capua a woman was brought a bed and deliuered of fiue sonnes At that time was séene in Arabia a great and a most huge serpent which being séene of many persons vpon the height of a rocke did eate halfe his owne tayle in which yeare there was throughout all Arabia maruellous greate pestilence In the ninthe yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in the citie of Mesia barley was séene to growe in the heads of their trées in such wise that no trée bare fruite that yeare but eares of of barley In the same yeare there happened in the kingdome of Artenitos in a citie named Triponia foure wilde and vnknowne Lions to lye downe in the market place which became so tame that they made them packehorsse to the mountaines for wood and boyes became horssemen vppon their backes In the kingdome of Mauritania a childe was borne which had the heade turned backwards which liued and was bred vp and also suche as would eyther sée or speake with him most conueniently did place them selues at his backe which notwithstanding coulde both sée speake and go but with his hands might not féede him selfe There died in Rome a Senatour named Rufus a man of great wealth and credite whiche after his death did many times come to the Senate sitting in his wonted place and clad with garments after his olde fashion but was neuer hearde speake one worde and this vision continued in the Senate full two yeares CHAP. XI Of the warres that happened in the reigne of Antoninus Pius and other his actes IT chaunced vnto no Romaine prince as it did vnto Antoninus which alwayes remaining within the bounds of Italie and commonly within Rome was so beloued feared and serued of all straunge kings and kingdomes as if personally he visited had conquered thē In the fourth yeare of his empire king Pharasmaco came to Rome but onely to sée Antoninus and brought and presented vnto him so muche and so maruellous thinges that the eyes of men were not satisfied in beholding eyther their hearts in wishing them The king of Parthians had taken awaye much landes from the king of Armenia who sent to complaine vnto the Romaines as vnto their friends alies and confederates for whome the Emperour Antoninus did write his letters vnto the king of Parthians to cease to do wrong and also to make restitution vnto the Armenians whose letters being receiued and read was presently obeied and perfourmed King Abogarus one of the mightiest and most notable kinges of the Orient the Emperour Antoninus did force to come to Rome bycause that owing a great summe of money vnto one of his vassals he would not come to account The good Emperour Traiane had constrained the Parthians to receiue their seate and royall crowne at the handes of the Romaines which subiection the Parthians both denyed and refused but Antoninus not only by letters but also by apparant threatnings did force them to yealde
that for the more part all matter were dispatched at his will and pleasure in such wise that Commodus gaue or firmed nothinge if Cleander did not signe or allowe the same Commodus had neuer any priuate or fauoured seruaunt that in all points could so winne his will as Cleander who affirmed to wishe nothing that Commodus wished not either to allowe any thing that hée said not but aduouched also that he did not thinke or dreame but that which Commodus did dreame and thinke and with these and suche like lyes and flatteries hee wan the hart of Commodus and obteyned seruice of the whole Empire After Cleander beheld himselfe the onely priuate and fauoured seruaunt of Commodus hée easily made himselfe rich obteyning the custodie not onely of the whole common treasure but also the kéeping of all the monie and iewels of the Emperour Cōmodus and further in giuing offices and receiuing presentes his sinceritie excéeded not But Cleander finding himselfe in so great magnificence began not greatly to regarde so great fauour or much lesse the obteyning of so great wealth conceyuing in the end that Commodus did vse him as a vassall and that hée must accompt him as his Lord to cut off which opprobrie and to giue contentation vnto his heart he determined to kill Commodus and for himselfe to vsurpe the Empire Cleander did build at the port Salaria most costly and delectable bathes and comaunded proclamation to be made in Rome to notifie vnto all men that would bathe therein to be discharged of all cost and fréely to vse the same and also added thereunto great pastimes and preparations vnto all kinde of vices in such wise that there they cleansed their bodies defiled their soules Many times Cleander did inuite the Senate and sent them particular presents home to their houses The Pretors Censors Questors Tribunes Prefectes and other Romane officers he caused their dueties to be paied and all the men of warre he did not onely pay them but also did trauel to hold them contented in such maner that some with vitious delights and pleasures and some by rewards giftes and monie in a maner he recouered all men for his friendes In the yeare of great hunger and pestilence in Italie Cleander bought all the wheat in the countries adioyning vnto Rome wherein his intent was not to gaine or make a profite thereof but to bring Rome into a necessitie to the end that all men should come to his house for wheate and therein to haue vsed so great liberalitie in selling good cheape and giuing plentifully in a yeare so deare that after the death of the Emperour Commodus they should not mislike to giue him the Empire And as hunger increased cruelly a great part of the yeare beeing as yet to come and the people not knowing Cleanders intent who did neither giue or sell any wheate soudainly al Rome did rise exclaming death and treason against Cleander as an vsurper of the goodes of the common wealth Cleander being a man valiaunt of great power and Captaine of the guard comaunded all the men of his captaineship to be armed who did place themselues in the compasse of his house for the garde of his person and to resiste that ciuil furie although it be most true that hée rather defended the sacking of his house then of feare to defende his life The townesmen on the one side and Cleander on the other part trauersed amongest themselues so long and perillous a contention that it séemed no other matter but that Silla and Marius were once more fallen into fight for the seignorie of Rome And as Cleanders partie was defended with men both armed and determined in the first onset they executed so great slaughter amongest the people that scarsly a streate was to be founde in Rome that was not bathed with bloud either any place great or litle that was not filled with dead bodies The townesmen perceyuing the slaughter and hauocke which the men of warre so cruelly did performe amongest them retired euery man into his house and fortifying their doores they fought from their windowes and house toppes and from thence threw and whirld out stones tiles spitts potts and caldrons and in that so common danger no lesse did womē fight then men Cleanders partie so hardly handled that scarcely remained a hundred that were not slaine or woūded Whilst these déeds were doing at Rome Commodus was recreating himselfe in an house which he had in an orchard and Cleander being of great power of some feared and of others beloued no man durst make report therof vnto Cōmodus because so strong was the frendship betwixt them that they feared the displeasure of the one and the vnkindnes of them both There was in the Courte a sister vnto Commodus named Fadilla whose eyes being charged with teares and tearing her haire from her head as one in gret distresse said vnto her brother Commodus Most serene prince and right deare brother if thou wert aduertised of the condition and estate of Rome thou wouldest not be so carelesse solacing in this garden because I giue thee to vnderstand that the yeomē of thy guard in the fauour of Cleander and al the other people of the common wealth haue trauersed amongest themselues so cruell a fight that if presētly at this instant thou prouide not some remedie this day wil be the end of the Romane people The exceding honour the great riches to to much fauour which thou hast imployed vppon Cleander hath raised him into exceeding great pride wherof although he be in the fault yet the occasion hath beene giuen by thee for as thou makest Lordes of bondmen it is most certaine that they will make slaues of Lords noblemen The people be so furious against Cleander Cleander and his men so flesht against the people that thou haste to chuse one of two thinges which is to witt to yeld Cleander vnto the common people or els to abide what fortune of them and vs shal be proued for as the case standeth now impoisoned it is impossible that ioyntly thy life and his person this day may be preserued These words being spoken by the infant Fadilla all men present recouered new boldnes persuading Commodus to remoue Cleander from amongest them and so to appease the whole people of Rome and to hold the ease of the common wealth more deare then the friendship or life of Cleander Commodus hearing these matters dismaid with feare forthwith cōmaunded Cleander to come vnto his presence and at the instante of his appearance commaunded his head to be cut off which being set vpon a lance and carried about Rome immediatly the whole multitude was pacified Cleander being put to death his children seruauntes friends were executed whose bodies after they were drawen by boyes throughout Rome were throwen into sinkes and places of vile ordure This was the conclusion and end of Cleander and the end of his children his house goodes and honour who though
banished and prouided also Galba Rufus for his Chamberlaine whom after foure houres he discharged of his office and sent him in exile and when Niger Rufus complained of their griefes Commodus aunsweared hée did not banishe them for that which they had done but for that which they might doe He created Prefect Marcus Dulius a man most certaine right generous and auncient whome after thrée dayes hée remoued from his office and comaunded him vntill his death in his house to be prisoner the occasion whereof was for that as hée affirmed Marcus was very old and spente and therefore it were no reason he should be troubled of any person and also that if any man should request any thing hée mighte aunsweare him that hée was a prisoner and might not go out of his doores to doe him pleasure He gaue the Senate to vnderstand that hée would go into Africa and had necessitie for his nauie by sea his army by land of a great summe of monie although the Senate did suspect it but a collusion they durst not but open the treasurie and diuide with him the treasure for otherwise he would both make hauoche of their liues and treasure In April the Senate gaue foorth their monie and when Commodus was in possession thereof he bruted his departing vnto Campania to take men of warre where hée remayned ail that Summer and also parte of the next winter eating drinking fishing hunting playing wrastling running leaping dauncing swimming and such other vanities All the Senate was much ashamed and all the Romanes not a litle touched after they vnderstood the monie which was giuen out for the warres of Africa to be so vitiously consumed by Commodus in Campania After his returne to Rome Commodus was aduertised that Motilenus Prefect for that yeare had murmured more at him then any other person and for very griefe and despight did wéepe to sée their monie prouided for the warres spent in so wicked vses Commodus confected certaine figgs and inuited Motilenus to dinner who being fed with figs died the third day following One day he clad himself as a priest right pontifically and placed himselfe aloft on a choche of 4. furious horses the Romanes supposing he would offer sacrifices at the temple he mounted certeine rockie cliftes mountaines and there against all reason ran his charriot where his horses happened to be all to torne his chariot rent all to péeces and hée brake his head and wrenched his foote finally he made a narrow misse in repayment of his follie that day to haue lost his life On a day he went to the Senate and said that hee would not haue Rome named Rome but Cōmodiana and the Senate aunswered they were both pleased to call Rome Cōmodiana and the Senate Cōmodiano That which the Senators supposed to be demaunded in iest also consenting in iest Commodus did accept in earnest from thenceforth the letters which were written the prouisions which were made the seals therto ioyned in al such instruments Rome was intituled Cōmodiana the Senate Cōmodiano and if by negligēce any man happened to be obliuious therof to vse the name of Rome presently he was banished from thence to séeke Rome for that was not but Cōmodiana The priests of the Goddesse Isis were commanded to come into his presence and said vnto them that shée had reuealed vnto him that their heads should be shauen and that hée was commaunded as high priest to performe the same and with a blunte knife hée cutt their nailes and blunting his knife vppon stones would drie shaue their heades in such wyse that as their haire was drie and his knife blunt it might more truely be said that hée did rather fley them then trimme or dresse them Such as garded the temple of the Goddesse Bellona hée caused their right armes to be thrust out of ioynte alledging that since they painted the Goddesse with a broken arme her priestes ought not to haue their armes whole and sound The Romanes painted their Goddesse Isis with naked brestes and Commodus on a day visiting that temple and beholding the image of Isis painted with brestes discouered hée caused the brestes of the priests to be scrat with combs of yron in his presence affirming that it were vniuste for their Goddesse to haue naked brestes and they to hold their entrailes hidden Commodus commaunded all men to call him Hercules which to the end hée would resemble hée made a coate of Lions skinnes and tooke in hand an huge clubb wherwith hée wente day and night killing men breaking doores and ouerthrowing pillers with such other vanities in so much that a fierce cruell Lion would not haue done so great hurtes as Commodus committed as a Lion but counterfect With many other vaine and wicked déedes vnworthie to be written CHAP. XIII ¶ A discourse of the prouinces that rebelled in his reigne and the prodigies of his death THere rebelled against the Romane Empire in the reigne of Commodus the Mauritanes the Datians the Sarmatians and the Germaines all which were onely come by the Romane capiteines for that Commodus did rather imploy his valiauntnesse in vices then in resisting enimies Hée was not onely in his woordes and workes vaine and friuolous but also in his letters which hée wrote for the Empire for that many times being aduertised frō countries and prouinces of causes of great importance he would answeare them with matters of vanitie and sometimes would sende an whole shéete of paper sealed and firmed conteyning onely one Latine woord that is to say Vale. Notwithstanding the dayes of his reigne were the most vnfortunate dayes yet would hee néedes commaund them to be termed the golden world Most heynous offences hée would pardon for monie if any person being absent were condemned to die hée would finde out some other of his age and name to be executed for his offence affirming that since he did resemble him in age and name hée should not varie in the maner of his death in such wise that this tyrant did kill innocents for the wicked and let offenders escape for monie If any man had an enimie of whom he would take vengeaunce hée néeded no other meane to performe the same but to bargaine with Commodus for a summe of monie which being agréed he neuer wanted occasion to rid him of his life At all the vile and filthie déeds which Commodus committed he was not gréeued but delighted in the publication thereof in so much that he was not onely euil but also boasted himselfe to be euill for that he entred so great follie or madnes that all thinges which hée either did or said whether allowed or misliked of himselfe or all other men expressely hee commaunded them to be written in the registre Capitoline On a certeine time he determined to burne the whole citie of Rome and being prest to giue fire to many parts Letus a Consul came vnto him and said vnto him so many things and put him
sonne shée dyed and passed out of this worlde Vnto whom Pertinax erected so solemne and sumptuous obsequies and so generous a sepulchre whereof was diuined that shée was the mother of some Emperour to come and that the Empire should fall into his handes The affaires of Germanie being settled the Emperour Marcus Aurelias sent his commaundement vnto Pertinax to passe into Datia which nowe is named Denmarke and did assigne him fiftie thousande sextercies for his stipend whiche may amount to fiue thousande Ducates of our money whereat manye did enuie no lesse for the greate summies of money which he gaue him then for the honourable gouernement that he committed vnto him Nowe Pertinax being growen verie riche and notified bothe valiant hardie and in greate estimation hee was there withall enuied of manie which hatred borne him by his contemporants and companions in the warrs they discouered by their extreme publishing his negligences darkening and inféebling his heroicall actes It is an auncient custome in the malice of man to holde nothing for well done but that which we loue although it be euil and to esteeme nothinge for euill but that which we hate although it be right perfect There came from Datia certeine souldiours to Rome whiche gaue foorth so peruerse and foule information againste Pertinax that presently the Emperour did suspende his office and discharged him of his stipende and that he shoulde serue one whole yeare at his owne proper costes in Illyria This imperiall commaundement being notified vnto Pertinax presently with greate patience he obeyed and departed vnto Illyria to perfourme his banishement with much constancie and they saye that he saide these words at his departing I am not grieued for the honour whereof they haue depriued mee either for the stipende which they haue taken from mee either of this exile whiche they haue sent mee but it grieueth mee that this commaundement shuld proceede from so good a Prince and I not hearde either he well infourmed because mine innocencie being knowen as shortly it shal be knowen the Emperour my Lord shal be noted of all men as a Prince of light beliefe and I shall obteine the credite and fame of a gentleman bothe sincere and patient And as Pertinax said so it succeded which is to wéete the Senate commaunding inquisition to be made and finding Pertinax frée and cleare from all matters wherof he was accused and manye thinges wherefore to be commaunded he was by publique sentence restored vnto his honour to his aduersaries was giuen the paine that he did and shoulde haue suffered although notwithstanding in short time after by his owne sute they were pardoned because Pertinax naturally was pittifull and not giuen to reuenge CHAP. II. ¶ Of the variable fortune that Pertinax did passe before he obteined the Empire THE emperour Marcus Aurelius helde Pertinax in reputation of a man both vertuous valiant silent of a noble minde and also fortunate but after he had by false report exiled him he helde him both for wise and of great patience considering howe mildly he endured so vniust banishment and afterwardes howe friendly he sued for his aduersaries In recompence of the iniurie whiche Marcus Aurelius the Emperour had done vnto Pertinax he made him Pretor of Datia and sent him ioyntly with his prouision the ensigne and did also constitute him capteine of the first legion that is to saye to haue the vauntgarde of the armie which in the warres is a matter of moste trust and also of honour in suche wise that where as his enimies had thought moste to haue confounded him from thence he receiued occasion to be most aduaunced The prouince of Noricus and Retius rebelled against the Romaines against whome the armies of Illyria were sent vnto whome they gaue aduertisement that they were readie to be reduced vnto the seruice of the Romaine Empire if the Pretor that presently did gouerne them were remoued and in his place they might obteine Pertinax for their Protector saying and affirming that they rebelled not to retire from the subiection of Rome but because their officers did oppresse them with cruell dealing Great ioye had the Emperour Marcus Aurelius when he vnderstood those prouinces to be reduced vnto his seruice but much more did he reioyce when he was aduertised howe instantly they craued Pertinax for the gouernement of that countrie vnto whome presently he sent both crauing and commaunding and to the ende that Pertinax shoulde accept his suite and condescende vnto his commaundement he sent him the ensigne and liuerie of Consulship Many dayes after that these matters had passed the Emperour Marcus Aurelius sent for Pertinax which had béene absent sixtéene yeares and as he was in martial affaires famous so generally they came foorth into the stréetes of Rome to beholde him as it had béene some monster brought from the desertes of Aegypt and being arriued at Rome he was conducted by the Emperour Marcus Aurelius vnto the Senate and after all sortes and fashions was praised and honoured as an assured friende doeth vse to praise and honour his approued friende which was great noueltie in Rome that is to saye for one Prince to speake for another in the Senate for vnto such like Capteines as vnto Pertinax they did onely heare what they would saye but vsed not to aunswere any one woorde within the Senate Presently in the Kalendes of Ianuary next ensuing Pertinax was created Consul which the Emperour wished the Senate had not perfourmed to the ende he woulde haue made him Pretor principall because he estéemed him to be in possession of greate wisedome for gouernement of matters of the common wealth and very vpright to administer iustice The people inhabitant neare vnto Danubie did write vnto the Emperour Marcus Aurelius howe they were robbed lost and euil gouerned and that if Pertinax were not sent to gouerne that prouince er long the whole countrie would rebell which Marcus Aurelius vnderstanding framed and forced him to returne vnto Danubie and to the same ende he gaue him power and stipende so accomplished that he reserued vnto him selfe but onely the name of Emperour his Lord One yere after that Pertinax had gouerned Danubie the Senate sent him newe prouision for the gouernement of Datia by the occasion of the death of Cassius and that also he should vse the residence of the Pretor of Panonia in suche wise that there was no matter either in the inferiour or higher Almaine that by the handes of Pertinax was not gouerned and prouided Two yeares after the death of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius Pertinax was remoued from the gouernement of Germanie and assigned vnto Syria the gouernement whereof was the best the most honourable and also the moste profitable that was giuen by the Romanes for that it was not bestowed but vppon the moste auncient Consul or the moste valiant capteine or the moste graue Senatour or the ambassadour that hest had perfourmed his charge All the life of the good Emperour Marcus Aurelius Pertinax
him in words in so much as he hath experience of all thinges O most excellent princes and my commilitants I will say no more vnto you but that if ye may persuade your selues to the election of Pertinax ye shall not onely yeeld a good Emperour vnto your Common wealth but also euerie man shall obteine in him a father for his familie for as he hath bin a leader vnto vs all so he cānot deale with vs but as with his children All the time that Letus was reasoning these matters vnto the armie they stoode all astonied and rapt partly in hearing the memoriall conteyning the treason that Commodus had ordeyned partly for the newes of his death and also in considering how aptly eloquently Letus had vsed his speach in opening the matter Presently at the instant that Letus had finished his talke the whole armie began to say exclame Viuat viuat Pertinax Augustus whiche is to say Long many yeares may Pertinax liue our Romane Emperour All the principal of the armie departed to visite Pertinax at his owne house found him not but in the temple of victorie and taking him vppon their shoulders they carried him about all Rome and as it was then as yet not throughly day the townesmen were abashed to heare such newes because not knowing that Commodus was dead they heard that Pertinax was proclaimed Emperour The Romanes afterwardes did sweare and affirme that in long time past there was euer any newes diuulgate in Rome that generally gaue so great ioy vnto all persons partly for the newes of Cōmodus death as also for that the good old Pertinax was made Emperour CHAP. V. ¶ Of an Oration made by Pertinax in the Senate immediatly after he was elected Emperour VEry great was the ioy that was manifested throughout all Rome because they had obteyned Pertinax for their Lord and no lesse was the heauinesse that Pertinax discouered to behold himselfe an Emperour for he said that this name or title of imperie or regiment was the thing that euery man desired for himself and in others did most abhorre No signe of an Emperour would Pertinax cōsent to accompanie him vntil he and the Senatours had séene conferred and saluted ech other and all ioyntly being mounted vpon the height of the Capitol where the imperial cloth of estate was placed Pertinax would by no meane sit downe in that imperial seat but tooke the Consul Glabriō by the arme and by strong hand would haue set him in the same seriously affirming that it apperteined much better vnto his deseruing Glabrion was a Romane in age very auncient in cōdition very mild in gouernment very wise in life of great sinceritie in bloud much estéemed for that he was descended by the right line of king Aeneas sonne vnto Anchises and sonne in lawe vnto king Priamus and father to Aschanius When Glabrion perceiued Pertinax to persist with so great instance to inuest him with the Empire he said vnto him in the presence of the whole Senate the humble humilitie which thou shewest Pertinax in the want of merit of the Empire the same maketh thée of deseruing sufficient of the Empire vnto which election all wée of the Senate do consent not moued thereunto by the election of the armie but to sée thée make so smal accompt of thy selfe in such wise that this thy refusal yeldeth thy merit sufficient A great while was the whole Senat persuading Pertinax to condescend to their request which is to wit to accept the Empire but his repugnance was so great that in a manner by force they placed him in the chayre and that which is more the whole Senate perceiued that he did nothing feynedly for it was lamentable to heare the lamentation which hee made and to sée the abundance of teares which he shed But afterwards when hée was placed in the imperial chaire Pertinax spake vnto the Senate after this maner His Oration to the Senate THAT which I will now speake vnto you fathers conscript the God Iupiter in whose house now we stand be my witnes I wil not therin deceiue you for this place being consecrate vnto the gods as it is it should be great sacrilege for men to aduenture to lye therein For all weaknesse which men commit they may haue excuse except it be for lying because vnto other vices humane weakenes doth inuite or intice vs but to lye we are not moued but with our owne proper malice Fathers conscript ye see how Commodus your Emperour is dead and the destinies haue brought to passe that I succeede him in the Empire perchance for as much as he did wishe mee euill and his workes of my part not very well liked it may be thought of you that the manner of his death was first notified vnto mee and his life cut off by my deuice wherein throughly to satisfie you I sweare and protest by the immortall gods that of this fault I am not guiltie because I was so innocent thereof that when they said that Commodus was dead at that instant I thought he had sent to haue slaine mee Notwithstanding that both he and we shal all die I would not that so straunge a death should haue finished his dayes not because Commodus did not deserue the same but for the great bond which our mother Rome doth owe vnto his father Marcus Aurelius for it many times happeneth that the errours of the children be recompenced with the merittes of their fathers I was seruant and aduaunced of the good Marcus Aurelius which is the greatest weale that the destinies might haue giuen me in this world I say it is to this end because it should be great griefe vnto me if in my presence any thing should be said either in my absence any thing should be done against his sonne Commodus although he be now dead for that in my heart I finde my selfe much more bound to acknowledge the great goodnes which I receiued of my Lord Marcus Aurelius then to reueng the iniuries that I suffered of his sonne Commodus Beleue mee fathers cōscript that if ye shall do cōtrary vnto this which I haue said it may be that obseruing time wherin I shall find my selfe it shal be necessarie to dissemble it but I may not cease greatly to feele it The prouidence of the gods is farre different from the deuices of men that which moueth me to this speach is that when I was a yong man I much desired the Empire and might not atteine it and now that I am old and do abhorre it they force mee to take it in such wise they giue vs that which we hate and denie vs that which we seeke or craue When I began to hold offices in the common wealth I thought it most certeine that it was no humaine matter but a diuine dignitie to be a Romane Emperour but after I tasted of the trauells of commaundements and of authoritie and vnderstoode the peril to reigne I did
giue vnto the multitude to murmur He many times came foorth vnto the fielde of Mars and there he caused the whole armie to exercise feates of war rewarding such as were industrious and reprehendinge such as were dull and hartelesse There were many Romaines and others in the confines of Italie whiche did owe great summes of money not onely vnto the fiscall but also vnto the treasurie among whome some in times past had béene his friendes and others that were in great necessitie he cōmaunded both the one the other to bee deliuered of the fiscall since it was due vnto him selfe and made payement of their whole debt that was due vnto the treasurie Amongest other vertues the Emperour Pertinax of twaine was muche noted and praised whiche is to wéete of clemencie and gratefulnesse for that he was pitifull vnto the afflicted and thankfull vnto his friendes Pertinax had a sonne whome after he was Emperour he would not permit to come to the court either as much as vnto Rome but that he helde him in his countrey following his owne affaires and the profite of his owne house whereuppon the Consul Fuluius Turbone saide vnto Pertinax that he séemed rather the sonne of a labourer then of an Emperour he lift vp his eyes to heauen and with a greate sigh saide My mother Rome hath cause to be contented that I offer and put my life in perill for her cause without venturing my sonne and house in like daunger Most surely the saying was lamentable and the more it is considered the more profounde it is whereby it appeareth that he helde him self for moste vnfortunate to be established in the Empire and that he left his sonne in greatest felicitie to be depriued of the Empire Although Pertinax were olde and graue and was placed in the height of the Empire he alwayes vsed greate vrbanitie towardes all men in suche wise that no man did him reuerence vnto whome he did not vtter some courtesie according to the qualitie of the person Fiftie seruauntes in Rome in one night and in one houre slewe their maisters for whome the Emperour caused so diligent searche that onely fiue escaped and the paine that he commaunded they should suffer was to carrie the dead bodies bounde fast backe to backe in suche wise that the stenche of the dead did finishe the wretched life of the liuing In the schoole where Pertinax studied a certeine Romaine named Valerius was there also a student and being alwayes in companie and of age not much vnlike and continuing in greate friendship did many times eate with Pertinax which during their repast were neuer hearde to talke but of science knighthood repayring of Rome or else the reformation of the common wealth It did well appeare in Pertinax that he tooke the Empire against his will for truely neither in his dyet either in his apparell either in his gesture or spéeche either in any other thing did he behaue him selfe as an Emperour in suche wise that he presumed not to represent what he was but what he had béene He saide manie times that in this worlde he neuer made the like faulte as when he accepted the Empire and many times made motion to leaue the same and to returne vnto his house but that he did recomfort him selfe with this saying that for as muche as he was of so greate age he might not liue longe but be deliuered of his tedious life CHAP. VIII ¶ Of certeine vices wherewith he was infected and of the prodigies of his death AS the Emperour Pertinax was olde so was he charged with the infirmities of olde age that is to saye with auarice because in gathering and kéeping of money he was verie diligent and in giuing or spending verie dull and vnwilling Also he was noted to be a man verie flexible in his affaires that is to saye he was not stiffe either greatly did vse therein any contradiction but that which one did counsell him another might easily persuade the contrarye the cause whereof was his good naturall inclination whiche coulde not without griefe beholde any man that was in sorrowe Also Pertinax was noted that he neuer denied any thing that was demaunded although many his promises were neuer perfourmed for at moste times he promised to giue that which was impossible to be accomplished And because the maiestie and greatenesse of Princes doth consist to haue and possesse whereof to giue they ought much to be aduertised in consideration what is craued of them and what they promise for hauing to do as they haue with so manie and to furnishe so infinite necessities they ought if their subiectes be vnshamefast in crauing to be graue in promising Ioyntly with this Princes ought to be aduertised that where they haue once gaged their royall worde all things set aparte they ought to perfourme the same Pertinax was twise married his seconde marriage was with the daughter of Vulpitianus whome he made prefecte when he was made Emperour As concerning the vnchastitie of his wife also Pertinax was noted whiche is to wéete of negligence in gouerning and remisse in reprehending her for that truely shée was both young and faire absolute and dissolute and reported in Rome to be more enamoured with a young Musician then with Pertinax her olde husbande Also Pertinax was much noted to haue vsed vnlawfull loue with Cornificia his néere kinswoman whome he had nourished from her childhood for shée was committed by her father vnto his protection this matter was no lesse scandalous then foule and no lesse foule then scandalous for that suche like and so great euill was not conuenient to a man of so greate age either permissible in a Prince of so great grauitie Some prodigious and straunge signes appeared before his death especially on a time offering certeine sacrafices vnto the Goddes Penates that when the coales were moste kindled and on fire soudeinly they were séene all dead and quenched whiche did signifie that in the greatest certeintie of his life soudeinly death should assaile him Not sixe dayes before he was slaine as in the temple of Iupiter he was offering great sacrifices with his own handes he offered a Pecocke wherein he found no hearte when it was opened and soudeinely the head vanished when the throate was cutt Eight dayes before he was slaine a Starre ioyned with the Sunne and did shine at noone dayes as if it had béene midnight Thrée dayes before he was slaine Pertinax dreamed that he fell into a fishepond and that there was a man with an huge knife to kill him and woulde haue fled and could not Iulianus whiche after succéeded Pertinax in the Empire hauing a Nephewe newe married vnto his Néece and hauing repaired vnto Pertinax to visite him Pertinax saide vnto the young married man be good and I shall holde and esteeme thee as my sonne serue thy vncle Iulianus as a father because he is my fellowe in office and successour They had béene ioyntly Consuls and afterwardes Iulianus in the
for he vsed to say that fooles set neighbours at variance but men that were wise malicious brought kingdomes together by the eares He was also inclined to read books and to vnderstand antiquities if he might not by his important affaires read himselfe he made others to read and further if he chaunced to be so busied that he might not read himselfe either heare reading at such times they read vnto him when he was eating or whē he went to bed He himselfe did write his owne life did write it as truly as if he had béen a chronicler that is to say praising his victories reprehending his vices and also most truly made report of all men that he kild but not of the smal reason that he had so to do Seuerus was much blamed for his great couetise of goods for want of care negligēce of his honour for that his wife Iulia was a cōmon adulteresse whom he did neither chastice or put away neither is it written that euer he did aduise or blame her It was sufficient for Seuerus to know his wife to be euil to be named Iulia whiche name was euer infamous amongest the womē of Rome Although he were an enimie of vices and of vicious mē much more was he enimie of théeues aboue all other kinde of wicked people and so is it said and found of him that he did beare with many malefactors but neuer pardoned any théefe In his apparel he was not curious or costly but alwaies was apparelled as a man of great sobernes especially much cōmended that in his Empire he neuer beheld any person in Rome clad with silke or purple Also in his féeding he was not disordinate yet truly of certaine fruits of Africa giuē to féede somewhat ouermuch and vsed to say that they had a better relishe then others for that being a child hee was bred with them Hée delighted also more to eate fishe then flesh and sometimes passed an whole moneth without the tast of any flesh the flesh that he best loued was mutton of fish the Trout In many cities of the Empire they made by his comaundement very notable woorkes especially in the citie of Tripol in Africa where he was borne he made there a fort an house compassed it with a very stronge wall He was a prince very careful that the citie of Rome should alwayes be well prouided which was manifested at his death at what time they found vij yeares prouision in wheat and oyle CHAP. XVIII ¶ How Seuerus passed into great Britaine where he died SEuerus being settled in securitie and intending certaine buildinges in Rome receiued letters from the gouernour of great Britaine which now is named England that a great part of the Island was reuolted from the seruice of Rome and to appease force them to obedience his presence was right necessarie because the Prefect himselfe was not only denied al obedience but they sought meanes also to kill him Seuerus was not displeased with this newes although he were both old and sickly for that he alwayes desired the offer of great things to magnifie his fame and perpetuate his memorie Seuerus also was pleased with those warres to haue occasion to withdraw his sonnes from the vices of Rome and so it came to passe that his elder sonne Bassianus he made captaine of the armie that he led by land to his younger sonne Geta he gaue the charge of his armie nauie that passed by sea Seuerus at the soudeine and vnprouided assailed the Britaines who at that instāt they vnderstoode of his arriuall in the Isle sent their Ambassadours partly to yéeld accompt and partly to discharge themselues of their rebellion as also to set downe betwixt them a certeine concord which Seuerus would neither yéeld vnto or abide to heare off for he vented rather to obteine the renoune of Britaine then for any reason to make them warre His armies being disimbarked the Ambassadours dispatched euery man prepared the one to offend and the other to defend Seuerus first prouided bridges wheruppon his horsemen might passe his foote men auoyd occasion to swim The Britaine 's of that part of Britaine in those dayes had a custome in time of warre to encounter their enimies in lakes waters where they did place themselues vp vnto the arme pits and from thence did fight and shew their skil when their enimies did shoote or whirle their dartes they would stoope or diue vnder water in such wise that it chāced thrée sundrie times that neuer happened in any part of the world which is to witt that 100. naked men ouercame 1000. armed persons Whē at any time they would fight in the field they vsed certaine targets after the maner of bucklers halfe swords girt vppon their bare flesh All matters apperteining vnto the warres brought vnto perfection Seuerus confirmed his younger sonne Geta gouernour of a certaine place of the Island that had not rebelled and kept his elder sonne Bassianus néere vnto his owne person executing cruel warres vppon the Barbarians who vppon determination to doe hurte or offend their enimies dyed with great hardinesse and vppon other determination would put themselues to flighte in whiche flight their enimies alwayes had the woorsse The warres being trauersed after this manner the gowt did grieuously increase vppon Seuerus in such manner that he could neither go out of his campe either sitt in counsel with his capteines in so much that he was constrained to commende the whole charge of the armie vnto his sonne Bassianus who more did practise secreately to frame hatred amongest the armies vnto his brother Geta then to make conquest of the enimies Bassianus so much reioyced of his fathers griefe and had so great care to inherite that he sawe no houre wherein he wished not his fathers death Not meaning to leaue any euil vnperfourmed that touched an euil nature adding euill vnto euill he suborned the Physicians that did cure him and the seruaunts that serued him in such wise the one to serue him and the other cure him that if the gowte did not finish him poison shoulde dispatche him Although no man said vnto Seuerus any one woorde he did well perceiue what his sonne Bassianus desired and so it came to passe that beholding the disobedience which his sonne did beare him howe euil his seruaunts serued him and howe slenderly his Physician did visite him although he were olde and sickely he died of pure sorrowe and melancholy The last wordes which Seuerus saide before he dyed they saye were these When I tooke the Empire I founde the common wealth throughout the worlde in trouble and nowe I dye I leaue it in peace and although I dye without power to testar ny firmar yet I leaue the Empire firme vnto my two sonnes Antonines if they shal proue good they remaine exactly made princes and if they shal be euil I leaue them nothing Before Seuerus dyed he
but that which was more odious vppon wagers would kill a whole kinred vntil they left no persone in whome any remembrance might remaine Many noble persons were determined to haue slaine Bassianus in the beginning of his Empire which they left not vndone for his deseruing either for want of will but for doubt that after his death many should rise with the Empire for presently they thought it lesse euill to suffer one then to resist many Now when Bassianus sawe himselfe rich in treasure of the temples and obeyed of the Pretorians he determined to mount aloft vpon the high Capitol and there to speake vnto the Senat partly to giue accompt of that which was done and partly to giue them to vnderstād what he would doe Being placed in the middest of the Senate and set in the imperiall chaire and euery man vsing silence he said after this manner CHAP. VI. ¶ Of a certaine speach vsed of Bassianus vnto the Senate excusing himselfe of the death of his brother Geta. ALthough in age I am but younge and in mine attemptes reputed as rash yet I cease not to confesse that I am in great hatred with the people and that my death should as much content them as now my life is displeasant vnto them And as princes are in the view of all persons so are all their works iudged of al men and from thence it procedeth that their iust attempts are praised of many but their errours condemned of all They that presume to iudge the woorkes of princes are not alwayes so iuste that they iudge continually conformable vnto iustice for as many times they praise the prince with lies so it may happen that they accuse them with malice One of the extremest trauels that princes haue is that such as throng in themselues to talke of our liues and to examine our deeds and actes they talke not as we liue but as we vse and deale with them for if we honour magnifie them they report we be no princes but gods but if we chastise and bring them downe they say wee be no men but furies Many times princes do chastise many not because we delight to punish but that it so agreeth with the imperiall authoritie so to be done for as with rewardes and pardons wee magnifie our pierie clemencie so it is cōuenient that with rigorous chastisements wee make our iustice to bee esteemed Many presume to iudge the vices of princes which if they were princes would not onely commit thinges worthie of iudgement but also iustly to be depriued of the Empire for the knowledge of good gouernement is not a thing that men obtaine of themselues but a gift which the Gods do giue vnto whome they please There is no prince so absolute or dissolute that at the least in his gouernment desireth not to be iust but what shall wee doe that haue no more power but to wish to do well and the gods onely to giue grace to gouerne well But comming to the case now chaunced for which the whole multitude with me be escādalized I sweare by the immortall gods that if the truth as it was were manifested I should be found without blame but I am of the one part so vnfortunate and of th other part the multitude is so variable that it many times happeneth that of my manifest actes they say nothing and of that which neuer passed my thought they accuse me O ye iust gods vnto you all I appeale as witnesses who first would haue kild the other either whether my brother Geta would haue slaine mee or I would haue slaine him for ye well vnderstand that being reposed on my bed he entered vpon me with a naked sword with which hee would haue drawne forth my soule if by chaunce I had not found one at my beds head If hee was the beginner of that quarrel and that fortune would fauour me at that instant wherefore being vtterly without any fault should I be blamed of all persons in Rome What greater testimonie would ye of my innocencie but respecting that hee being the person that offended and I the man that defended my selfe the gods haue brought vppon him that which hee ment to perfourme on mee neither in any good iudgement may it be conteined that if by malice or enuie I would haue slaine my brother that I should execute the same by stealth and within the sacred palace for that in so enorme a case I deserued not so much chastisement for the deede as to committe the same in the place where that was done I will not denie that vnto my brother I was not bound to honour him loue him succour him and to deale well with him but I will not confesse that I was bound for all treasons and iniuries to suffer him for as it is honourable for great princes to dissemble pardō iniuries that are done to them by their inferiours so necessarie is it for them to reuenge the discourtesies and displeasures done vnto them by their betters or equals It is notorious vnto al men that in times past many princes of the Romaine Empire had brethren with whom they might not endure but that many of them were slaine ▪ or at the least driuen out of the Empire for in fine there is none of so great temperaunce that in case of commaundement would haue a companion no not his brother Consider the behauiour of Remus and Romulus Tiberius and Germanicus Titus and Domitian Marcus and Lucius others infinite that were brethren amongest whome vppon the point of commaundement and gouernement there arose so great displeasures and vnkindnes not as though they had beene natural brethren but as most cruel enimies O fathers conscript and friends giue thanks vnto the Gods that haue preserued your prince safe soūd for that with out cause they would not haue giuen him his death and conserued my life for the workes of our gods are so profound secreate and vnknowne that althoughe wee see what they doe yet wee see not the end why they do it Amongest all the gods onely Iupiter is he that hath dominion and so amongest al men the god Iupiter would not but that onely one should possesse the Empire for it were no lesse monstruous to gouerne the Empire by two persons then one body to haue two heads If for all the Heauens one God be sufficient and for all Bees but one king and all members be gouerned with one heart all birds haue but one guide I demaund of you my friends to gouerne the common wealth of Rome if one man be not sufficient As we haue read in bookes of our forefathers and as we haue seene in our dayes there is nothing more conuenient vnto the Romane Empire as to be gouerned by one only person for that we haue seene more warres raised vppon which prince should commaund then for any disobedience of subiects Howe fierce warres were raised betwixt Silla Marius Caesar and Pompeie Augustus and Marcus
learned and expert that for excellencie therein in Rome they named him the Greeke childe for that he was as readie in the Greeke tongue as others in the Romaine speache At the age of xvi yeares he had a desire to passe into Spaine to sée his olde countrie he arriued at Calize where his mother was borne and from whence Traiane was natiue and there leauing his letters did exercise him selfe in armes because in those dayes the Spaniardes had there a famous studie of science and the Romaines helde there a schoole for the warres Adrian bothe in leaping and running was verie light wherein it is sayd of him that he ranne for many wagers and not a fewe times by running and leaping did winne to supply his necessitie He greatly delighted to ride swift running horses and did much presume to iudge and make choyce of them and after in his olde age he would vaunt and say of him selfe that he neuer roade in coche mule or other beast but an horse In the time of Adrian his youth he was an enimie to idlenesse and also of them that were giuen therevnto and many times sayde that he remembred not since the age of tenne yeares whether hee stoode still or walked by the way that he had not eyther a booke to reade in or some weapō to fight with Adrian was naturally sharpe of wit and of great life most apparant in that he was not satisfied to knowe what some men did knowe but trauelled to haue skill in all things that men vnderstoode with Philosophers he woulde dispute with maisters at weapons he woulde fight with artificers he would worke and with painters he would paint Adrian did praise him selfe and according to writings of olde time he had great reason so to do bycause there was no Art science occupation or inuention in the worlde that he knew not or at the least did not trauell to knowe When Adrian was young he was but of small patience for that he indured not any to excell him neyther yet to compare with him and rare was that quarell which he did not make or mainteine When Tatian Adrians tutor did reprehend him for his impatience and bycause he was not mylde as the young man his cousen Emilius he made answere My cousen Emilius is not patient but for that he is a coward and I by quarelling am become valiaunt Neyther being a childe or growne to more yeares Adrian vsed not to breake foorth into foule wordes although they sayde or did him great iniuries but indéede although his toung were slowe his handes were very ready Adrian was of a sound bodie except that sometimes he complained of his left eare and that one of his eyes at times did water but two euils did not hinder his hearing much lesse his sight CHAP. II. Of some euill inclinations that possessed and had power in Adrian THe Emperour Adrian did muche delight in hunting which he did not exercise in the plaines but in mountaines for he tooke no care to flée with haukes but to fight with fierce beastes to make a shewe of his valiauntnesse So giuen and so venterous was Adrian in his chace that with great reason I will not say did reproue but note the time that he consumed and that not onely for much time he spent therein but for that many times he was in great daunger It hapned somtimes that in following the chace of wilde beasts Adrian did loose himself in those rough and craggie moūtaines wherof there folowed not a few times that he would haue eaten if he had had breade and woulde haue dranke if he had had water When he went to hunt he carried his crosbowe to shoote his quiuer of quarels and his wallet of victuals and alwayes did place him in the pace where the beast should passe and had so little feare and so desirous of chace that if it were a beare he did execute some aduenture and if it were a Lion he did abide him It is not read that he siue any Lion but one but beares and other cruell beastes that he siue with his owne hands were infinite Adrian followed most fiercely a certaine beast with so great desire and did so trauel to attain the same that he fell ouer a rocke put his shoulder out of ioynt brake one of his legs and cast much bloud out of his mouth In the Prouince of Misia Adrian built a citie which he did name The chace of Adrian bicause there he vsed to pitch his Pauilion and from thence at mornings he went foorth to hunt and at night did returne to bed He had an horsse very ready for hunting which would staye and make ready as a man when he vnderstoode the chace comming and therewithall ranne as sure downe the hill as vp the hill This horsse was named Borystenes which being deade Adrian did not only cause to be buried with muche honour but also commaunded for the same a very riche sepulchre of Marble to be made and erected Adrian did muche estéeme and delight to paynt figures and counterfets very naturally and to graue in Marble with great skil and deuice sometimes in waxe to make newe inuentions and was in these Arts so curious that he made the Goddesse Venus in Alabaster and with a pencill did paint the wars of Carthage and of ware did fourme the whole Island Creta And albeit that in these things he were readie and expert ioyntly therewith he was very ambitious bycause he had as great enuie and also rancour at an artificer which was sayde to paynt or worke more curiously then him selfe as if the maintenance of his liuing had consisted therein There were in Rome two excellent men the one named Dionysius the other Milesius men right famous in the liberall Arts for that many in Rome did frequent their studies but muche more did peayse their workes Adrian did take thereof so great enuie that although he found no cause to kill them he wanted not occasion to banish them A certaine skilfull carpenter in drawing plots for buildings being in some question with the Emperour Traiane of the fourme and manner of placing of a staire Adrian being present sayd his iudgement somwhat besides the purpose whervnto the carpenter Polydorus answered Maister Adrian if your cunning did not serue you better to paint gourdes and coocumers then to place staires you shuld obteine a smal credite amōgst painters as you haue amongst artificers Although Adrian could dissemble those words he might not in any wise forget them for after the death of Traiane he attaining the empire those iniurious words were no more costly vnto the sorrowfull Polydorus but to serue Adrian for sufficient reuenge to take away his life Adrian being so great a Grecian and also a Latinist compounded certaine workes in Heroicall metre as also in prease did muche delight to haue them praised could not indure but the some must read them In those daies the Gréek tong flourishing in Rome brought the of